Private sector is asked to proactively lobby through their international trade partners for deferment of Bangladesh's LDC graduation as exporters and economists cite some shortcomings for status change. "Time is running out to make the case at the United Nations," Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special
Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Wednesday said the government will no longer take foreign loans merely because they are available, emphasising that external financing will now be reserved for essential projects aligned with national priorities. In the past, loans from the World Bank, IMF,
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday approved 13 development projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 8,333.28 crore. Of the total cost, Tk 4,437.82 crore will come from the government’s fund, Tk 1,225.36 crore as project assistance, while t
Bangladesh counts US$1.78 billion in lost productivity in a year as rising temperatures ate up about 25 million working hours in 2024 through the heat impact on health, the World Bank reveals. "The resulting economic losses are projected to be between $1.33 billion and $1.78 billion, which represe
Now the government tries for deferment of Bangladesh's LDC graduation by three years, in the wake of strong pleas particularly from the business community afraid of losing export privileges at a bad time. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman spoke of the government move Tuesday, though he sees slim
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have stood at $30.89 billion, according to the latest data of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) released on Tuesday. However, as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) methodology under the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), Ba
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman on Tuesday said that the government is trying to defer Bangladesh’s graduation from the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by three years. However, the chances of success are slim, as countries like India and the United States, among other friendly na
Bangladesh saw its balance of payments (BoP) deficit narrow in the opening month of the fiscal year 2025-26 as two props helped partly offset a sharp deterioration in the country's financial account. Last official statistics show a current-account surplus and robust remittance inflows helped out i
A visiting US trade delegation stressed expediting Bangladesh's labour-law amendment and narrowing the bilateral trade gap to pave the way for further reduction in the tariffs on Bangladeshi exports to the American market. At a discussion Monday in Dhaka, the local apparel leaders mentioned that t
Bangladesh Bank on Monday purchased US$353 million from 26 commercial banks through a multiple-price auction in a bid to stabilise the exchange rate of the dollar. According to the central bank, the measure aims to maintain stability in the foreign exchange market and encourage the inflow of remit
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday called on the country's lawyers, especially tax lawyers and representatives, to refrain from misleading the government with false information. "Both plaintiff and defendant lawyers may lie or hide the truth," he said while addressing at the inauguratio
The country's foreign exchange reserves rose further on Sunday, reaching US$30.59 billion, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bank (BB). Measured under the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6), the reserves s
Washington has assured Bangladesh of considering further reduction in the current 20-percent retaliatory tariff on Bangladeshi products if the bilateral trade deficit continues to narrow. And the trade gap with the United States has already been on the decline, Commerce Adviser of the interim gove
